Design fire hydrant and hose reel systems

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BCPFS5002A	Design fire hydrant and hose reel systems
Unit Descriptor	This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to design fire hydrant, hose reel and storage systems to Australian and New Zealand standards, the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and other relevant legislative requirements in order to meet fire protection standards.

ELEMENT	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
1 . Evaluate design parameters.	*Scope of work* is established for fire hydrants, hose reels and distribution systems for wide span and high-rise building projects. *Design requirements* are determined from plans, specifications and client briefs. *Cost-benefit analysis* is conducted comparing a range of pipe materials and system designs. Fire department, *statutory and regulatory requirements* and *Australian and New Zealand standards* for the design of fire hydrants, hose reels and distribution systems are analysed, interpreted and applied. *Manufacturer requirements* and trade, technical and sizing manuals are interpreted. Additional research including a *desktop study* is conducted to outline design parameters. *Flow and pressure tests* are conducted. *Performance requirements* are established.
2 . Plan and detail system components.	*Layout of pipework* and type and location of *fittings and valves* are planned. Type, location and requirements for backflow prevention devices are detailed. Pipe sizes, velocities, flows and pressures are calculated for a range of applications. Approved *materials, jointing methods and installation requirements* are specified. Hydrant *booster, standpipe and hose reel assemblies* are detailed. *Thrust blocks* are designed for a range of applications. *Pipe fixings* are designed for a range of applications. *Pump, pump controls and pumproom requirements* are sized and detailed. *Water storage systems* are designed and detailed.
3 . Design and size systems.	Fire hydrant and hose reel systems are designed for a range of wide span and high-rise building applications. Combined water supply, fire hydrant, hose reel and sprinkler systems are designed for a range of wide span and high-rise building applications. A range of *delivery systems* is designed. Fire hydrant and hose reel systems are designed and sized using computer software packages.
4 . Prepare documentation.	*Plans* are prepared for a range of fire hydrant and hose reel systems. A block plan is prepared for the booster cabinet in accordance with Australian and New Zealand standards. A *specification* for a fire hydrant and hose reel system is prepared. A *testing* and *commissioning schedule* is prepared. An *operation and maintenance manual* is produced.

Key Competency	Examples of Application	Performance Level
How can information be collected, analysed and organised?
How are ideas and information communicated within this competency?
How are activities planned and organised?
How are problem solving skills applied?
How are mathematical ideas and techniques used?
How is use of technology applied?
How is team work used within this competency?

Range Statement

Scope of work :

includes interpretation of plans and specifications
includes sizing and documenting layout of fire hydrant and hose reel systems, including:
- emergency egress
- separate hydrant and hose reel systems
- combined hydrant and hose reel systems
- combined domestic fire hydrant and hose reel systems
- equipment
may be for residential, commercial and industrial projects and for a new or an existing structure being renovated, extended, restored or maintained.

Design requirements may include:

owner requirements
architectural specifications
builder specifications
specialist water use applications.

Cost-benefit analysis may include:

comparison of range of suitable materials and system choices available to enable cost-effective choices to be made without compromising the integrity of the project.

Statutory and regulatory requirements may include:

acts and regulations
local and state government policies.

Australian and New Zealand standards may include:

AS/NZS3500 National plumbing and drainage set Parts 1.1 and 1.2
AS2419 Fire hydrant installations - system design, installation and commission
AS/NZS1221 Fire hose reels
AS/NZS2118 Automatic fire sprinkler systems - general requirements
AS2200 Design charts for water supply and sewerage
BCA.

Manufacturer requirements may include:

material specifications
sizing tables
pump tables
technical and trade manuals.

Desktop study may include collection and interpretation of existing data for design purposes from:

council plans
developer plans
architectural and building plans
other documents and reports as available.

Flow and pressure tests may include:

on-site measurement of flow (l/s), velocity (m/s) and pressure (Kpa)
interpretation of flow and pressure tests conducted by a contractor.

Performance requirements include:

flow, velocity, pressure and discharge requirements, established using Australian and New Zealand standards and local authority plans.

Layout of pipework systems may include:

ring main
single pipe
dual feed.

Fittings and valves may include:

fittings:
- tees
- bends
- elbows
- valve trains
- unions
valves:
- isolating
- pressure reduction
- pressure limiting
- backflow prevention
- excess pressure valves
- strainers.

Materials may include:

copper
polybutylene
composite pipe materials and other pipe materials as specified
fittings and fixtures.

Jointing methods may include:

compression
brazing
screwing
flaring
soldering
mechanical joints
rubber ring joints.

Installation requirements may include:

jointing requirements
level of workmanship
clipping
installation details.

Booster and standpipe assemblies may include:

valves and fittings
configuration of valves and hydrants
suction and delivery outlets
non-return valves
pressure gauges
testing points
block plan.

Hose reel assemblies may include:

cabinet
space requirements for valves and fittings
configuration of valves and hose reels
non-return and backflow prevention valves
pipe sizes
location and number of hose reels required.

Thrust blocks design elements may include:

sizes
keying and anchorage points
soil characteristics
velocity and flow forces to be resisted
design details for tees, elbows, valves and meter assemblies.

Pipe fixings may include:

wall and ceiling brackets
saddles
hanging brackets
anchors
material requirements
corrosion protection
bracket spacing
bedding
cover.

Pump, pump controls and pumproom requirements may include:

installation and mounting requirements
valve requirements
inlet and outlet design requirements
automatic controls
space requirements.

Water storage systems may include:

tank sizes
location
number of hours of firefighting supply required
access
inlet valve design and sizing
overflow requirements
automatic controls
safe tray requirements
outlet sizing.

Delivery systems may include:

upfeed
downfeed
pressure ratio
hydropneumatic
constant flow variable speed pump.

Plans :

may include:
- elevations
- sections
- details
- cross-sections
- isometrics
- axonometrics
- schematics
may be produced using:
- pencil
- Indian ink
- pigment liner
- computer generation.

Specification may include:

materials
workmanship
jointing
manholes
manufacturer requirements
clipping
bedding
concrete support.

Testing may include:

hydrostatic test
air pressure test
quality assurance (QA) audit.

Commissioning schedule may include:

balancing the system
temperature setting
checking and flushing the system.

Operation and maintenance manual may include:

yearly inspection
leak detection
check for blockages
water auditing
yearly maintenance requirements
pump maintenance.

Evidence Guide

Overview of assessment

This unit of competency could be assessed on its own or as part of an integrated assessment activity involving effective performance and application of principles used to design fire hydrant and hose reel systems.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of:
- establishing and evaluating design parameters for a range of fire hydrant and hose reel systems
- planning system components for a range of fire hydrant and hose reel systems, including:
  - storage tanks
  - booster assemblies
  - hydrants
  - hose reels
  - thrust blocks
- complying with occupational health and safety regulations applicable to workplace operations
- applying organisational quality procedures and processes within context of restoring plastered surfaces to conservation requirements
- designing and sizing a range of fire hydrant and hose reel systems
- developing a checklist with all information and formulae required to carry out flow and pressure tests
- preparing plans for a range of fire hydrant and hose reel systems
- preparing a specification for a fire hydrant and hose reel system
- preparing a testing and commissioning schedule
- producing an operation and maintenance manual
- interactive communication and teamwork with others to ensure safe and effective work site operations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Resource implications for assessment include:
- workplace or simulated environments appropriate to a range of situations and activities
- computers and software
- materials appropriate to application activities
- appropriate documentation and data related to tasks, including plans and specifications of an appropriate building
- tools and equipment relevant to planning processes, including calculators.
Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy requirements of the work being performed.
Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:
- competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
- where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice with a decision of competence only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the candidate's competence
- all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence
- where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (RCC/RPL), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time
- assessment can be through simulated project-based activity and must include evidence relating to each of the elements in this unit.
In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. Questioning will be undertaken in such a manner as is appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy levels of the operator, any cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and reflecting the requirements of the unit of competency and the work being performed.